* A few hours before the ambush in the Deserted Lands.*
*Xuan BaiShe's private office.*
The silence in Xuan BaiShe's office was broken only by the scratching of a quill on parchment. Then he sealed the envelope with wax.
There was a discreet knock on the door. A guard entered, a Spiritual Core stage cultivator, who bowed so low that his forehead almost brushed the silk carpet.
"Young Master, you summoned me?" began the guard, his voice filled with blind admiration for the one he considered the paragon of family virtue.
BaiShe displayed that gentle smile.
"Indeed," replied BaiShe in a melodious voice. "I have a mission of the utmost importance for you. You must deliver this letter to a hidden emissary at the border of the Deserted Lands. It is a delicate matter concerning the safety of my sister, Ling'er. I trust only a man of your loyalty for this task."
